Everyone wants their business to grow, and we're guessing you're no different. Let's take a look at three simple things you can do to make sure you see growth in your business.
Focus On People
Ultimately, business is all about people buying from other people, so making sure you have a motivated and qualified workforce is crucial. No matter how fantastic everything else is, your business is only as good as the people who are in it. They're your biggest asset.
Ensuring you have the right people in the right roles is key to growth. Without them, the rest of the year (and beyond) will be an uphill battle of management and fire fighting. But with the right people, you'll be able to focus clearly on the activities which add to the growth of your bottom line.
Have a look around now. Where are the gaps? What are the skills your workforce is missing? Hiring the right people up front is an investment that will keep on paying out.
Refine Your Offer
Being a jack of all trades might sound like an appealing trait in a candidate, but they tend to win less business than a master of one. After all, if your kitchen tap springs a leak you're much more likely to call a specialist plumber than the handyman who does a bit of plumbing as well as bricklaying, carpentry, bathroom fitting and landscaping.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, reducing the number of products and services you offer may increase the likelihood of you winning business. Focusing on just your core strengths allows your expertise shine through and helps your ideal customers or clients to pick you out from the crowd.
Take a look at what you're offering. Is there anything that waters-down what you're really about? Is there anything draining lots of resources for very little return?
Set Targets
January is a natural time to set targets for lots of people - a new year and plenty of new resolutions. Sadly, most of those resolutions don't stick long-term, but goal setting doesn't need to be an annual failed venture.
No matter what month it is, take some time to set targets for your business. Not as a gimmick or something you're secretly planning to give up on before the month is out, but instead, decide where your business is heading over the next year and how you're going to take it there.
Make sure your destination is clear and that you'll know when you've arrived (for example, gross profit, products sold or measuring staff retention). Work out what the first couple of steps will be and start making it happen.
